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Hi Sue

There isn't much room in the bedrooms once a double airbed is in. That's another reason why we use a pup tent for "Kevin". Probably abbout a foot on two sides.

We tie back the wall of the centre bedroom and use it to store clothes in bags. Also gives us a bigger bedroom.

The internal poles are zipped into a sleeve until about 2 foot from the ground, so you can't hang anything from them, I seem to remember someone mentioning some hanging points on the later models though (ours is the older version without the kitchen extension), we hang a light in the tent by using some extra clips for the bedrooms on the front and centre poles, with a guy stretched between.

The tent itself is excellent, v.well made, no draughts and will stand up to a wind like no other tent I have ever used.

As we have 2 dogs, to protect the g/s we bought the Outwell carpet for the Bear Lake 6 which fits like glove.

Have a look at one , I'm sure you will love it.

Quote: Originally posted by grindysl on 09/4/2008another question about the biscayas, have been thinking about getting the 500 but not sure if the 440 may be big enough. anyone got any advise? we have got 3 children, so 2 will have to share a room,12 and 4 year old boys! 10 year old girl in the other. any help would be appreciated as want to make right decision when spending so much money? Hope to travel to Don Valley soon to see one up   Many thanks sue   

We have the 2007 model 440

It has one big bedroom with 2 dividers to make 3 compartments, and there is 3 zipped doorways so each compartment can have its own entrance. Personally, I'd want the teenagers in a second small tent just for sleeping in. More privacy for you and they will like having their own place!

I have one teenage daughter, but she often brings a friend with her. She has her own tent, at first it was a 15 quid jobby from Asda that was actually pretty good and never let her down. She even took on on her D of E camping trip. We have now bought her a Gelert Cadiz 4+2 so she has a load more room.

Back to the Biscaya . . .

We thought the 500 was HUGE when looking at them at Don Valley, and didn't fancy the idea of pitching it, firstly because of the size and height and secondly because of the pitch size required for such a big tent.

We went for the 440 as we could have it as one huge bedroom with the dividers rolled up for me and wifey plus the 2 dogs. We have 2 single coleman comfort airbeds together to make a bigger double and have it in the centre of the bedroom leaving loadsa space down each side plus space at the end.

We have pics of ours on a thread here:

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=32&TopicID=123041&SearchPagePosition=1&search=Biscaya&searchMode=allwords&searchIn=Topic&forum=32&searchSort=dateDESC&ReturnPage=Search

The outwell carpet helps protect the ZIG and make its feel cosier. Store our clothes, food, pots/pans in a couple of Outwell larder units. Bags of room inside, and should the weather be rainy you don't feel cramped inside. We've had a dozen of us sat around a table playing cards inside one rainy day!

The extended canopy is a worthwhile extra, giving that bit of extra outside cover which is great for shade on  sunny days and staying dry on the usual british rainy days. We cook outside, keeping the kitchen unit under the canopy when weather dictates.

Stands up the the worst the weather can throw at it without grumbling. Never have I felt so safe and secure inside a tent on wet galeforce nights as I do in the Biscaya.

Enjoy yours whatever you decide on!

Chaz